The last century did not belong to Canada; what about this one?

“The 19th century was the century of the United States. I think we can claim that it is Canada that shall fill the 20th century.”

– Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, January 18, 1904

Sir Wilfrid’s ambitious claim is well-remembered in Canada — perhaps because we all feel the sting of knowing that it missed the mark.

Dylan Marando’s restating of essentially the same case — that the century just beginning will belong to Canada — is not so well known. But it’s a thought-provoking read.

Marando is this year’s winner of the student Canadian Priorities Agenda competition sponsored by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. It analyses the opportunities, the challenges and the policy directions that would be needed to make such a prediction come true.

This stress on policy, I think, is the key. Laurier’s prediction — as we now know given 100-plus years of hindsight — was not a sure thing. It was a possibility. And for whatever reason — bad luck, unforeseeable events, Canadians’ own failure to grasp the brass ring — Canada fell short.

“It involves reinvigorating and leveraging existing partnerships, embracing our now well-developed role as an energy superpower, and using our reputation as a country of openness to look abroad.

“The policy path to greatness proposed is undeniably challenging, it is long-term, but it is possible. It comes from unique circumstances that uniquely, and fortunately, align with Canadian interests. It comes when the challenges ahead of Canada are so large that some form of action, grand or not, is required.

“Now is not the time to retreat from our successes. Now is not the time for modesty.”

Click here to read the paper. And feel free to leave a comment or send me an email to let me know what you think.